Public Water System Operators: What Applicants for Licensing Need to Know

Preparing for the licensing exams for public water system operators.

This page will assist you in preparing for your licensing exam and your daily job activities. Select the class and type of license you are applying for in the list below to find the information you should know before taking the licensing exam.

Be able to identify safety hazards in the work environment; know proper safety procedures and uses of safety equipment.

General

Know: the major responsibilities of licensed operators in relation to public-health principles and goals; the types of potential waterborne diseases; the procedures and requirements for bacteriological sampling; proper public and customer relations procedures; definitions of the types of physical and chemical characteristics of water; the hydrologic cycle; sources of drinking water; types of required recordkeeping activities; general types of contaminants of drinking water; the requirements for conducting customer service inspections.

Groundwater

Know: sources of well contamination and general methods of well protection; major components of wells and each component’s function; general knowledge of well pumps and motors; general purposes of various groundwater treatment processes.

Surface Water

Know: sources of surface water and characteristics of good-quality water; major components of a surface water plant and the treatment processes used in treating surface water

Storage/Distribution

Know: purposes of various types of storage reservoirs; components of distribution system; types and general purposes of various meters, pumps, motors, valves and pipes; be familiar with various types of cross-connections and have general knowledge of backflow-prevention assemblies.

Disinfection

Know: startup, shutdown, and safety procedures for chlorinators and other disinfection equipment, the various forms, uses, hazards, characteristics and types of storage of chlorine; basic reactions of chlorine in water; first aid procedures for victims of chlorine gas; how to test for chlorine residual.

Math

Know how to: use common conversion units from a table of equivalents; solve basic water utility math problems using area, volume, and chemical dosage formulas.

Be able to implement a safety program in the workplace, conduct tailgate safety sessions, be familiar with the (Texas Hazard Communication Act ); know lab hazards, lab precautions, traffic, confined spaces, and shoring safety.

Be able to implement a safety program in the workplace; conduct tailgate safety sessions; be familiar with the (Texas Hazard Communication Act ); know lab hazards and lab precautions; know shoring requirements.

General

Know: basic concepts regarding employee supervision; well construction requirements and well development procedures; causes of unstable water, methods of measuring corrosiveness, and procedures used to control corrosion.

Treatment/Production

Be able to diagnose and correct complex problems in groundwater treatment processes.

Laboratory

Know steps in performing basic chemical laboratory analyses; be able to interpret results of lab tests and make proper adjustments to treatment processes; be familiar with methods used in bacteriological examinations.

Storage/Distribution

Be able to diagnose and correct complex problems regarding storage and distribution.

Disinfection

Be able to optimize chlorine usage in the water system; have a thorough understanding of chlorine properties, chlorine reactions in water, and factors affecting disinfection; have a thorough understanding of chlorinator components.

Be able to implement a safety program in the workplace; conduct tailgate safety sessions; be familiar with the (Texas Hazard Communication Act ); know lab hazards and lab precautions, know shoring requirements.

General

Know: basic concepts regarding employee supervision; causes of unstable water, methods of measuring corrosiveness, and procedures used to control corrosion; problems associated with thermal stratification and how to correct them.

Treatment/Production

Be able to diagnose and correct complex problems in surface water treatment processes.

Laboratory

Know steps in performing basic chemical laboratory analyses; be able to interpret results of lab tests and make proper adjustments to treatment processes; be familiar with methods used in bacteriological examinations.

Storage/Production

Be able to diagnose and correct complex problems regarding storage and distribution.

Disinfection

Be able to optimize chlorine usage in the water system; have a thorough understanding of chlorine properties, chlorine reactions in water, and factors affecting disinfection; have a thorough understanding of chlorinator components.

In Addition to Knowledge of the Class B Groundwater, Water Distribution, and Surface Water Criteria, the Class A Water Operator Should:

Rules/Regulations

Be knowledgeable of proposed and current (EPA rules) and their implications for public water systems.

Safety

Be able to develop safety programs for waterworks operators. Know responsibilities of employer and employee in regard to safety in the work place.

General

Know: the health significance of various chemicals when found in water in excess of required or recommended limits: how to plan, organize and implement corrosion control programs; how to plan, organize and implement an emergency management program related to disaster preparedness; how to develop and implement energy and water conservation programs; types of water-borne diseases infectious agents, modes of transmission and methods of control; how to interpret pump curves.

Management

Know techniques used in managing a water system and supervising its employees. Be able to plan, organize, staff, direct and control the operations of a public water system.

Treatment/Production

Know how to implement special treatment process related to fluoridation, stabilization, softening, desalination, iron and manganese problems, control of trace organics, and taste and odor control.

Disinfection

Know alternative methods of disinfection of public water supplies.

Math

Know how to solve all types of calculation problems encountered in water system operations.